‘The Studio’ Creator Says Martin Scorsese Thought His Cameo Scene Was ‘Wrong’ But Didn’t Want to Be a ‘Backseat Director’: ‘He’s Just the Best’

Martin Scorsese couldn’t help but give his two cents to the production even when stepping in front of the camera for Apple TV+‘s “The Studio.”

In a recent conversation with People, “The Studio” co-creators Evan Goldberg and Alex Gregory recalled having Scorsese play himself in the pilot episode. They said that while shooting a scene with the Oscar-winning director, he “had one note, but he didn’t give it until” after they got the shot.

“There was a moment where him and Charlize Theron were whispering to each other, and it took like 10 takes to get the shot,” Goldberg said, who directed the Scorsese episode. “And then we got it and I was like, ‘What were you whispering about?’ He was like, ‘I knew you were doing this wrong, but I didn’t wanna be a backseat director, so I just didn’t say anything.’ And I was like, ‘Well, we could have used that time, but I appreciate that you didn’t wanna manhandle us.’”

Gregory added that everyone on set was “pretty shocked Martin Scorsese was in the show.” Goldberg went on to gush about his performance, adding that, “unanimously we would say Martin Scorsese as an actor was unbelievable.”

Goldberg continued, “The fact that he actually showed up, ’cause we kept thinking, ‘He’s gonna cancel. It’s too amazing. It’s too special. He’s just the best.’”

“The Studio,” which premiered on Apple TV+ on March 26, follows Seth Rogen‘s Matt Remick, the freshly ordained head of a legacy movie studio, who desperately attempts to balance the craft and commercial sides of a turbulent film industry.